Keeping the ‘right door’ open for survivors of sexual violence
Victim-survivors of sexual violence don’t want to talk about what’s happened to them, so it is critical they can safely tell their story once, and once only, to get the immediate help and ongoing support they need.
“The first door they knock on has to be the right door,” says Dr Kate Taylor, Trust Chair of the Midlands Sexual Assault Support Service (MSASS).
“Victim-Survivors don’t have the capacity to advocate for themselves, you can’t send them elsewhere, they won’t make a second call. Our service ensures they get support, without having to repeat themselves.”
The need for MSASS services is significant - sexual violence is much more prevalent than most people believe. The most recent New Zealand Crime and Victims Survey says that 78,000 adults, some 1.9% of the adult population, one in fifty, had been subjected to sexual violence in the last year.
The percentages are even higher for some population groups, particularly young women, and these numbers don’t include children and youth. The overall rate of victimhood is not believed to be growing but the numbers seeking help is steadily increasing.
“The numbers suggest there cannot be one person in this country who does not know someone affected, whether we’re aware of it or not,” says Simone Molenaar, the Chief Vision Officer at MSASS.
Waikato Hospital needs to be open about mistakes
EDITORIAL: For all the travails assailing public hospitals, transparency should not be one of them.
Hospitals used to own up to their mistakes in a very public fashion. Each year they published a list of “Sentinel Events” — the most serious incidents involving patient harm.
That window of openness has slammed shut.
Treasured Book Workshop Series
Create your own treasure book in this eight-week Hamilton workshop. Choose your cover, pick your papers, and learn simple book-binding techniques to craft a one-of-a-kind keepsake filled with pockets, textures, and space for your stories.
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Childrens Arts Therapy
Children’s art therapy gives your child a safe, calm place to express emotions, build confidence, and develop resilience through creative activity. Our children’s art therapy sessions support kids who experience worries, stress, social challenges, or big emotions, offering steady guidance and space to explore at their own pace.
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Children aged 5-8 Years Time: 3.45pm - 4.45pm class
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